European Union and United Nations support Kazakhstan’s transition to a green economy model

01/11/2018 - 06:19

News stories

ASTANA – On 31 October the Final Conference of the joint EU/UNDP/UNECE project “Supporting Kazakhstan`s transition to a green economy model” and the opening ceremony of the pilot project «Construction of the high-technology greenhouse in the boreal region of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Astana city» took place. The Project has been implemented by the United Nations Development Program and funded by the European Union in Kazakhstan.

The aim of the Project is to support Kazakhstan’s development paradigm shift, based on the sustainable use of natural resources with focus on water sector. The Project basic results and the achievements in the sphere of sectoral management principles and legislation enhancement were summarized within the event framework. The pilot projects practical implementation and water sector specialists capacity building experiences were also presented to the audience.

Ambassador of the European Union to Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Sven-Olov Carlsson underlined: «We conceive Kazakhstan as a very important strategic partner in the future development. This Project, funded by the EU, is a successful example of the green economy project implementation. We plan to continue our support of such initiatives and work in the regions is a key element of our strategy. We intend to cooperate with the regions in new modality through different developmental banks».

Implementation of the Project in three key dimensions allowed to provide expert support to Kazakhstan in the sphere of transboundary water resources management, including facilitation of the joint work with Russia on the rational use and protection of the one of the biggest rivers of Kazakhstan – Ural river. The initiative on the Strategic Environmental Assessment tools introduction will allow to consider the questions of environment and population health impact at the initial stage of the strategic planning and policy development. 15 technological projects, implemented within the Project in eight regions of Kazakhstan, demonstrated practical use of green technologies.

«The pilot project demonstrated practical use of modern green technologies and approaches in the sphere of rational use of water resources and efficient water infrastructure management in the regions. The experience of the pilot projects can serve as a practical blueprint to achieve agro-industrial development targets of Kazakhstan» - said Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Vice- minister of agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

/file/greeneconomyjpg_engreeneconomy.jpg

The opening ceremony of the one of the early mentioned pilot projects – Greenhouse project- took place within the framework of the Final Conference. «Construction of the high-technology greenhouse in the boreal region of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Astana city» demonstrated the practical use of green technologies to optimize operational costs of the enterprise and to increase the profitability of the greenhouse business in the severe climate conditions. Thus, reverse irrigation equipment saves 40 % of valuable resources. A protective screen provides significant heating cost savings.

«I am sure that demonstrated within the pilot project combination of technological solutions will find widespread acceptance in Kazakhstan. Due to the severe climate conditions in large parts of the country population has a limited access to the freshvegetable products, and transportation costs lead to the higher prices of imported goods. New technologies are aimed to optimize production processes and improve people’s lives. I believe we managed to do it», – said Mr. Norimasa Shimomura, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Thus, introduction of six advanced technologies will allow to provide population of the capital of Kazakhstan with quality vegetables all year round at affordable prices. In accordance with the estimates of greenhouse project beneficiaries energy and cyclic resource saving technologies will provide 15% price reduction of the final product.

Terms of implementation: 2015-2018

Budget: EUR 7.1 mln.

Partner: Committee of water resources, Ministry pf agriculture of RoK.